Friction draft and buffing mechanism.



11. ASPER. FRICTION DRAFT AND BUFPING mnommsm.

APPLIOATIbN FILED FEB. 10, 1909. 933 ,046, Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

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FIG-1..

FIG.4.

H. ASPER. v FRICTION DRAFT AND BUFPING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1909.

WITNESSES aha UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRICTION DRAFT AND BUFFING MECHANISM.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented septa, 1909.

Application filed February 10, 1909. Serial No. 477,146.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat" I, 'I-IALEDAN Asrnn, a resident of Butler, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a,ne-w and useful Improvement in Friction Draft and Buffing Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This. invention relates to friction draft and bufiing mechanism for railway cars and the like. I

The object is to provide a device of this character of simple construction and efficient in operatio' The invention comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a plan view of the friction mechanism; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section 2 through the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; Fig. lis a longitudinal section showing a modification; and Fig. 5'is a transverse section through the same on the line 55, Fig. 4.

This friction mechanism is adapted to be applied to any construction or type of railway car.

In the drawings the draft beams of a railway car are indicated at 1, and While these are shown as composed of metal it will be understood that this is illustrative merely. Secured to the inner faces of these draft beams are front draft lugs 2 and rear draft lugs 3 which also may-be of any. desired con.-

struction. Bearing normally against the frontdraft lugs 2 is a front follower plate at and bearing normally against the rear draft lugs 3 is a rear follower plate 5 which is engaged by a strap or yoke 6 of the usual construction and having its forward endsbent inwardly "to engage the head 7 of the coupler shank. 8 to which head said yoke is secured by means of a rivet as shown. The

head 7 lsadapted to bear against the front follower plate 4. These parts are all old and their function and mode of operation well understood.

' The friction gear itself comprises the main or outer friction member or barrel or housing 10' which may be of any suitable shape in cross section, :being shown as substantially circular. This housing or barrel is preferably closed atits forward end by the end wall 11 hearing, against the front follower plate, while its rear end is open. Arranged within this housing or barrel are ngs, but when under bufling the inner friction members or plates 12. Four such friction plates are preferably used and 4 are shown each extendin for substantially a quadrant of the circle. These friction plates in cross section are'- curved to the inner contour of the housing or barrel and bear against the inner face of the latter. The inner faces of the housing or barrel and the-outer faces of the plates 12 constitute the friction surfaces of the ar. l

The friction plates 12 may be provided with transverse inwardly projecting webs 14 arranged intermediate their ends. posed between these webs and the front wall 11 0f the housing-or barrel, or the front fol lower plate, is a compression spring or springs, the drawing showing an outer heavy spring 15 and an inner lighter spring 16 which serve to release the gear after compression. Rear compression springs 0011- 'sisting of a heavy outer spring 17 and a lighter inner spring 18 are arranged between the rear, follower plate 5 and a transverse 30 plate or disk 20 located between the friction plates 12. Secured to the plate 20, such as by means of a bolt 21, is a bowed or curved spring 22, which is of substantially the form of a semi-elliptic spring with the-ends bowed forwardly and rounded and seating in concave seats 23 formed on the friction plat-es,

such as means of transverse ribs 24 on the rear faces of the inwardly projecting webs 14. The bowed spring is of'eruoi'form or cross shape, as shown in Fig. 3', havingv four arms which enga'ge respectively with the four friction plates. This bowed spring is of considerable widthviewing the gear transversely so as to give long bearingsat the outer ends and also to give ample strength. It is made of strong spring metal and normally is curved as shown in thedrawor tugging stresses the gear shortens," this spring straightens out and therefore becomes relatively, longer transversely of the gear and acts to thrust the friction plates 12 outwardly, that is, spread the same against the inner face-of the housing or barrel. The degree of outward thrustexerted by the bowed spring varies with the extent of straightening of the same and varies the degree of friction between the friction surfaces.

In Figs. 1" and 3 a single bow'ed's Ringlld member is shown, this being formed 0 a series of leaves of successively shorter-lengths Interin order to give the necessary strength, on the principle of semi-elliptic springs. Figs, 4: and 5 show a modification in which a plurality of bowed spring members are used, each consisting of a single leaf and separated by spacing sleeves it; surrouinling the bolt 21 which connects the members to the transverse plate or disk 20. In this modilis cation the posterior springs 17 and 1b are dispensed with and the disk rests directly against therear follower plate. ends of the several bowed spring members engage seats formed on the inner faces of separate strips or blocks 29 bearing against the inner faces of the friction plates 12 and against the transverse webs ll of the latter. The action, however, is the same as in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The separate blocks or strips 29 allow of adjustment, such as by grinding off their outer faces, as in the case of too tight a fit, or permitting the insertion of shims between the same and the friction plates 12 in the case of too loose a fit. The forward end wall 11 of the housing may be extended beyond the periphery of the barrel or housing and of substantially rectangular shape, as at 30, so

, as to form in effect a front follower plate to bear'directly against the front draft lugs 2. This feature can of course also be einbodied in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The friction platesl2 on their inner surfaces are provided with suitable longitudinal and transverse ribs to strengthen the same, indicated at 31. The forward end of the housing is provided with inwardly projecting lugs or webs 33 for guiding and centering the springs. p

The friction gear described'is of simple construction having a minimum number. of parts and is also of comparatively light weight. The parts are so assembled that they cannot get out of place, but at the same time can beeasily removed for repair or other purpose and again assembled. The operation of the friction gear is not materially different from that of ordinary friction draft gears. Under tugging stresses the housing or barrel is held stationary against the front draft lugs. The yoke of the draw bar moves the rear follower plate forwardly,thus compressing the springs and forcing the transverse plate or spring seat 20 forwardly. The friction plates 12 also move forwardly somewhat but are resisted by the front spring which slowly compresses. The

The outer forced out simultaneously and under uniform pressure. The degree of friction of course depends upon the extent of straightening of the bowed spring members, and

this depends upon the force of the tugging orbutling stresses. \Vhen the tuggin stress is removed the forward springs 15 and 1G expand, forcing the friction plates rearwardly and under the reaction the parts assume their normal positions. Under bufling stresses the operation is substantially the reverse of that described, the rear follower plate in this case becoming stationary'against the rear draft lugs and the housing or barrel moving rearwardly, thereby carrying the friction plates 1:2 rearwardly and causing the bowed spring members to straighten.

The friction gear described is very 'efli-- cient, giving a high degree of-friction be} tween parallel surfaces due to the spreading action caused by the straightening of the bowed spring members whenever the gear shortens.

What I claim is: i I 1. ;In a friction draft and buffing gear, the combination of contacting friction elements, followers and springs, and a bowed spring member arranged transversely of the gear and arranged on shortening of the gear to straighten and exert a thrust against and force the friction elements intocloser contact.

2. In a friction draft and balling gear, the combination of outer friction elements, oppositely facing cooperating, inner friction elements, followers and springs, and a bowed spring member extending transversely of the gear and arranged on the shortening ofthe latter to straighten and exertav thrust against and spread the inner friction elements into closer contact with the outer friction elements.

3. In a friction draft and batting gear, the

combination of a housing provided with fric tion faces, friction plates arranged within the same, followers and springs, a. plate ar' ranged transversely of the gear and movable longitudinal thereof, and a bowed spring.

member between said transverse'plate and the friction plates and arranged on the shortening of the gear to straighten and ex ert a thrust against and spread said friction plates.

4. In a friction draft and bufling gear, the

combination of a housing, cooperating friction plates therein, a compression spring arranged to force said friction plates in one direction longitudinally, a follower plate, and a" bowed spring member arranged transverselyof the gear and on theashorte'ning thereof being caused to straighten and exert plates. 5. In a friction draft and bufling gear, the combination of outer friction elements, op-

ing athrust against and spread the friction positely facing cooperating inner friction elements,'followers and springs, and a bowed spring member arranged with its ends having thrust bearings against the oppositely facing inner friction elements and arranged on shortening of the gear to straighten and spread said inner friction elements.

6. In a friction draft and butting gear, th

combination of a housing, friction plates therein provided with inwardly projecting transverse webs, a'compression spring acting on one face of said webs, a follower plate, and a transverse'bowed spring member between said follower plate andthe inwardly projecting transverse webs and arranged upon shortening of the gear to straighten and spread the friction plates.

7. In a friction draft and bufling gear, the combination of a housing, friction plates. therein provided with transverse seats,

springs and followers, and a bowed spring.

member arranged transversely of the gear with its ends engaging the transverse seats combination of a housing, two

of the friction plates and arranged on shortening of the gear to straighten and spread said friction plates.

8. In a friction draft and buifing gear, the

air of oppositely arranged friction members therein, and a four armed bow springmember extending transversely of the gear, each arm engaging a friction member and arranged .on shortening of the gear to straighten and spread said friction members.

' 9. In a friction draft and bufling gear, the combination'of a housing, a plurality of oppositely arranged friction plates therein, a

pairs of" oppositely facing friction spread said spring member -arranged transversely of the oppositely facing friction elements and arranged onshortening of the gear to.

straighten and spread said elements.

11. In a friction draft and'buffing gear,

the combination of a l'1'ousi ng,"a plurality of lates therein, followers and springs, and a p urality of bowed spring members extending transversely of the gear and having the ends thereof engaging the oppositely facing friction plates.

12. In a friction draft and bufiing gear, the combination of a housing, two pairs of oppositely facing friction plates thereinf followers and springs, and a plurality of cruciform bowed friction members arranged transversely in said gearwith the ends thereof engaging said friction plates and arranged of the gear to straighten and.

on shortenin iction plates.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set myv hand.

Witnesses F. H. .DAvY, 'M. SHERIDAN;

. HALFDAN ASPER. 

